ABAWD Policy Resources
Here are some resources to find out more about SNAP ABAWDs and related information.
- SNAP Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – Questions and Answers 2 – August 2023
- SNAP Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – Questions and Answers 1 – July 2023
- Implementing SNAP Provisions in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – June 2023
- SNAP Provisions in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – June 2023
- Partnering to Support Able-bodied Adults through the Public Workforce System as the Public Health Emergency Ends (USDA and DOL Joint Letter) – June 2023
- Noticing Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents before Reinstating the Time Limit – May 2023
- Preparing for Reinstatement of the Time Limit for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) – Reissued in February 2023
- Preparing for Reinstatement of the Time Limit for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) – September 2021
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Impact on Time Limit for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) – March 2020
- Clarifications on Work Requirements, ABAWDs, and E&T – May 2018
- Best Practices and Resources for Informing Households of ABAWD Rules – May 2018
- Requirements for Informing Households of ABAWD Rules – April 2017
- ABAWDS Time Limit Exemption for Veterans Disability Benefit Recipients – May 2016
- ABAWD Time Limit Policy and Program Access Memo – November 2015
- Guide to Serving ABAWDs Subject to the Time Limit – 2015
- ABAWD Questions and Answers – June 2015
- Expiration of Statewide ABAWD Time Limit Waivers – March 2015
- ABAWD Questions and Answers – December 2013
- ABAWD 101 Presentation
ABAWD Waivers
As required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, FNS is providing available ABAWD waiver materials from FY 1997-2024 to the public to increase waiver transparency. Documents prior to FY 2013 may only be available in part.
- ABAWD Waivers – July 2023
- SNAP - Guide to Supporting Requests to Waive the Time Limit for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) – September 2021
ABAWD Discretionary Exemptions
Federal law provides that each state SNAP agency be allotted a number of exemptions equal to 8 percent of the state's caseload that is ineligible for program benefits because of the ABAWD time limit. Prior to FY 2020, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 allocated exemptions equal to 15 percent of the state's caseload that is ineligible for program benefits because of the ABAWD time limit. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 reduced the allocation to 12 percent for FY 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 reduced the allocation to 8 percent for FY 2024 and each subsequent fiscal year. Moving forward, the Department will refer to these exemptions as discretionary exemptions.
These exemptions allow the state agency, at its discretion, to extend SNAP eligibility to a limited number of ABAWDs subject to the time limit. Each discretionary exemption extends eligibility to one ABAWD for one month. As per federal law, FNS calculates and issues state agencies with a new allotment for each federal fiscal year. State agencies do not earn new discretionary exemptions based on areas that are covered by ABAWD time limit waivers in the preceding fiscal year.